Vehicle-signal.



H. L. FREEHAFER.

VEHICLE SIGNAL. APPLLCATION FILED JAN-14.1916.

L. Patented om.. 16,1917.

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H. L. PREEHAFEH.

VEHICLE SIGNAL.

APPLicATIoN FILED 1AN.14.1916.

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Specication of Letters Patent.

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Application filed January 14, 1916. Serial No. 72,102. i

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1, HOMER L. Fnnnrisrnn', a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at `l)enver,.in the countyof Denver and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVehicle-Signals, of which the following is 'a specification.

' This invention relates to improvements in signaling devices for motorvehicles, and its primary object is to'provide an electrically operating,instrument of simple construction which is adjusted by movement of aswitch in the circuit in which it is connected, to indicate to trafficoflicers, pedestrians or drivers of approaching or 'iollowing vehicles,the direction in which a vehiclerto which the linvention is applied, isabout to turn.

With the above objects in view, my invention consists of the features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawingsin the various views of vwhich like parts are similarly designated, andin which,

.Figure 1 is a plan View of the instrument,

the casing in which the operating mechanism iszinclosed having beensho-wn in section,

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section along the line 2-2, Fig. l, l

Figs. 3 and rear views of a motor vehicle to which my invention isapplied, with the indicatory element of the instrument in the positionsto which it is moved for in dicating proposed movements of the ve hiclein opposite directions,

Fig. 5, a transverse Vsection taken along the line 5 5, Fig. '2,

Fig, 6, a similar section taken along the line 6-6, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7, a diagrammatic view of the circuit in which the instrument isconnected.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 designates the casingof the instrument, composed of a back board 3 upon which `the operatingparts are mounted, and va box 4 which is removably fastened upon theback 3 and which in its face has a glass covered opening 5.

The operating mechanism oi the instrument comprises a pointer composedof a flat blade 6 which is shaped to provide an elongated shank and.cuneiorm points 8 at theopposite ends ther-cci,

The blade is painted on both sides. thev shank and one of the points ina color .sharply contrasting with that of vthe bach 3 and the otherpoint in a color which is similar to that of the back.

It will be readily understood that by the` use of a pointer thuscolored, the shank and one of itspoints can be distinguished at adistance while the other point ispractically invisible by reason of thesimilarity of its' color with that of the back' ofthe casing, and thatby coloring the points reversely at opposite sides of the blade the one'pointer may be used to indicate opposite directions by reversing itsosition.v

The pointer-blade issecured upon a shaft 9 which is rotatably supportedbetween adjustable bearings 1() on brackets 1l and 12.

secured upon the back-board of the instrument.

The bracketlQ at one end of the pointer, carries an incandescent lamp 13and a retlector 14k for. illuminating the instrument at night, and thebracket 11 at the opposite endl of the same,y constitutes thel frame of.a

small electro-magnetic motor by which the.

blade is rotated through an arc of substantially` ninety degrees.

The armature 15 of the motor consists of a core .16 carrying a singleloop oi wire 17 and mounted upon the shaft 9 through the intermediary ofa bushing 18 of nonconducting material.

Pole pieces 19 are fixed in the motor frame to form the magnetic fieldand collecting rings 20 connected with the windingof the armature, aresecured upon the shaft in insulated-.relation to each other.

Coiled springs 21 connecting the `rings 20 with arms 22 of the'motor-frame, .at

points diametrically opposite with respect to the rotary shaft, areinsulated from the frame and connected in opposite sides of thev circuitas shown in Fig. 7, and they thus perform the function of a resistanceas well as that of a resilient means' for yield. ingly maintaining thepointer blade in its normalv position.

The electric circuit in` which the instrumentY is Vconnected, may have aseparate source of current. although I prefer to use for this purposethe battery of the starting, lighting or ignition systems of themotorvehicle to which the invention is applied;

In the diagram shown in Fig. 7. Q3 designates the source of electricity,2i, 25 :26 and Q7 the conductors connecting the opposite poles thereofwith' the collecting rings of the motor', and 2S the switch whichcontrols the flow' of current through the circuit.

This switch is placed on vthe vehicle within easy reach of the driverand i'sof the ref .versing type so that by its proper adjusti ment, thedirection of the currentpassing through the motor may be changed for ro'tating the pointer in either direction.

f The switch has been shown in the dra'w'- ving in a conventional formas being composed Aof two. circuit closing elements 29 of -the plugtype, the movable contacts 3Q of vwhich are reversely connected by wires31.

I desire it understood however, that 'any -suitable switch adapted foroperation eitherby hand of by foot-.pressure may be used to -effect arotary movement of the motor-armature through a determinate .angle ineither the -pointerat night is connected'in the same l"direction for'theadjustment of the. pointer- .,blade to predetermined positions.

f The incandescent lamp used to illuminate circuit as shown in Fig. 7and the 'connec- Q lng of the lnstrumentv which as shown 1n tions .ofthe conductors with the collecting ringsf'a established through the'.medium of bindin ,posts 32 applied exteriorly of the casing., nconnection with the insulated ends of the combined resistance coilsandreturn springs 21.

In the operatlon o f my invention, the cas- Figs.' 3 and 4, ispreferably applied at the rear of the vehicle, is secured in ahorizontal position to a convenientpart ofthe body or chassis of thesame.

The pointer blade lies normally in a hori'- zontal plane, that is, withone 'of its edges facing the glass covered opening of the casing,aposition which obviously yrenders it practically invisible at a distancefrom the To indicate the direction in which the vdriver of-the lvehicleproposes to turn the 4same,the'switch is closed to effect a flow ofcurrent'through the Winding of the lmotor which in consequence isrotated through an .arc of approximately ninety degrees.

Thepointerblade which rotates with thev armature is thus positioned in avertical' plane or with one'of its sides facing the opening in thecasing, thereby rendering the portion thereof which is painted incontrast with the color of the back, clearly visible to driversv offollowing vehicles.

When the switch is reopened the blade returns to its normal position andit will be seen that by proper adjustment of the re- 'versing switch,the blade may thus be turned .in one direction or the other as shown inFigs. -3 andv 4 to -ndicate tlecoloring upon itssides, in what direction-`the vehicle 1s about to turn.

Having thus described-my, invention what I claim andl desiretov secure'by L'ett'ers- Pat- I'-S- 65.

1. In a vehicle-signal, a reversibly mountent is:

ed` pointer-blade, comprising a shank, at one end thereof a point ofsimilar color, and at the opposite end of the 'samea point of different,color.

2. Ina vehicle-signal, a .reversibly mount' ed pointer-blade comprisinga shank, at one end thereof a point of similar color, and at theopposite end ofthe same a point of dif` ferent color, and means forrotating said blade in either direction through an' angle edpointer-blade, comprising'a shank, at one end thereof a point of similarcolor, and at the opposite end-of the same a point of different color,.an4 electric motor having its armature'connected with the bladeY .forits rotation, a reversing switch in the motorcircuit, to effect acurrent iowl thrpugh said armature in either direction, and `a lamp inthe circuit, disposed to illuminate the blade.

v 5. In a vehicle-signal, al back, and a pointer reversiblymounted infront thereof,

and comprising a shankcolored in contrast with the color of said back,at one of the ends of the shank a point of similar color, and at theopposite .end of the same a point of a color similar to that of theback.v

6. In a'vvehicle-signal, a back, a pointer reversibly mounted in fronttheneof, and

comprising a vshank colored in contrastwith 5 the color of said back, atone of the ends of the shank a point of. similar color,'and at4 theopposite4 end of the same, a pointv of af colorv similar' to that of theback, and a casing connected With said back and having a glass-coveredopening in front of the pointer.-

' In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in IpIresence of twowitnesses. v

- OMERLIFR'EEHAFER.

Witnesses:

-G. J. ROLLANDET,

L. RHoADFs.

